Beaker Full? 19 Tips for Management

“I have one more huge task to handle today, but I’m tired and I’ve had enough. Not only that, my depression and anxiety are peakin’. How can I pull it off?”

Feel great, even if you didn’t realize 100% accomplishment. (You stepped-up to the plate and gave it your all.)

The beaker is full. That’s how it goes at times, isn’t it? You’re spent, but there’s one more item on the priority list that has to be handled before day’s end.

Suddenly you find yourself in the midst of the classic internal struggle…

The little voice on the left-side of your brain says, “Blow it off, you’ve had enough.” And the voice on the right says, “Come on, get moving – there’s work to be done.”

Actually, this scenario goes down fairly frequently. So why not practice some strategies and techniques to overcome it, and keep it from becoming a problem in the future?

The Before’s, During’s, and After’s of Resolution

Let’s cut right to the chase and approach resolution in three distinct pieces: things that can be done before, during, and after the need-to-do task.

Before…

Aside from handling the task itself, what internal growth work can you accomplish along the way?

Is the task ahead realistic – either too challenging or not challenging enough?

What will be the spoils of accomplishing the task?

How will you know the task is accomplished?

How will you manage your thoughts and feelings should you, to any degree, not accomplish the task?

How will you reward yourself for successful completion?

During…

Stay in the moment – resist looking toward the end of the task and how unbearably distant it seems.

Wholeheartedly throw yourself into the work.

Make accomplishment adjustments along the way.

Repeat and jot-down statements of self-encouragement.

Self-congratulate as you accomplish pieces of the task.

Begin to look forward to your self-promised reward.

After…

Debrief – alone or with someone else.

Feel great, even if you didn’t realize 100% accomplishment. (You stepped-up to the plate and gave it your all.)

What did you do well?

What did you have a hard time with?

What can you learn from the experience?

Record plenty of mental and written notes.

Enjoy your self-reward!

This Task: Complete

No doubt about it, life is max-tough for everyone. And, though it can’t be used as an excuse, our mood and anxiety symptoms can make it all the more difficult. Yes, compromised motivation and the temptations of avoidance can be devastating.

So we have to be proactive in making the very best of our present circumstances and challenges. And that only happens if we learn effective strategies and techniques – and practice.